The Brain: The Function Of The Human Brain

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There are many parts of the human experience that we are still striving to understand; yet, one of the most complex and mysterious parts of humans is the brain itself. It is a very complex organ with function we still do not fully comprehend. There are different processes that we are still attempting to understand; however, we do understand the bottom-up and top-down processes of the brain. The major filter and function of the brain are also understood as the attention filter and the executive function of the brain. One of the systems that are most understood is the reticular activating system that controls the first steps of understanding. By understanding what we already know about the brain we can assist students in their learning and …show more content…

It is composed of three parts: the brainstem, the cerebellum, and the cerebrum. First, the brainstem “includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla. It acts as a relay center connecting the cerebrum and cerebellum to the spinal cord. It performs many automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate, body temperature, wake and sleep cycles, digestion, sneezing, coughing, vomiting, and swallowing” (Mayfield Clinic, 2013). Next, the cerebellum “is located under the cerebrum. Its function is to coordinate muscle movements, maintain posture, and balance” (Mayfield Clinic, 2013). Lastly, the cerebrum “is the largest part of the brain and is composed of right and left hemispheres. It performs higher functions like interpreting touch, vision, and hearing, as well as speech, reasoning, emotions, learning, and fine control of movement” (Mayfield Clinic, 2013). Concerning the right and left hemispheres, the right hemisphere “is mainly in charge of spatial abilities, face recognition, and processing music. It performs some math, but only rough estimations and comparisons. The brain 's right side also helps us to comprehend visual imagery and make sense of what we see. It plays a role in language, particularly in interpreting context and a person 's tone” (Melina, 2011). The left hemisphere “is dominant in language: processing what you hear and handling most of the duties of speaking. It is also in …show more content…

This attentional system filters out information along with making sure that a person does not respond inappropriately to stimulation that is not important. The executive function is a set of mental skills that help a person get things done and are controlled by the frontal lobe. The executive function helps to manage time, pay attention, switch focus, plan and organize, remember details, avoid saying or doing the wrong thing, and do things based on experience. Working memory, attention, and executive function are three cognitive functions that affect learning. According to Rosemary Tannock, “These three cognitive functions are interwoven in a complex system of neural networks, and they are crucial to the learning process. Strong working memory results in functional attention networks and good executive function, all of which correlate strongly with academic achievement” (Tannock,

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